Civil Engineering (MS) – Smart Cities

In 2017, FUTURe CITy initiative was launched by the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) and Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering (CECE) Department. FUTURe CITy initiative at UCF brings together a group of researchers and educators with a vision to synergistically explore the wide-ranging technological advances towards better serving urban residents. The initiative is a pioneering effort in the state and country. It is geared toward many aspects of CECE including: Smart transportation, Smart and resilient infrastructure, Smart and technological advancements in environmental engineering, and water resources.

The track is designed to help future Civil and Environmental Engineers to learn and adapt to the new challenges in the field of Smart Cities and be prepared for their professional roles through a state-of-the-art education. Elements of the track will bridge some of the gaps with other engineering disciplines and open the door for students to collaborate on research and education that are relevant to the cities of the future.

The Smart City Track in the Civil Engineering MS program is for students with appropriate science or engineering baccalaureate backgrounds. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available with each requiring 30 credit hours. The thesis option requires 3 credit hours of required course work, 9 credit hours of Core courses, 12 credit hours of elective graduate course work exclusive of thesis and research, and a thesis (6 credit hours). The non-thesis option requires 3 credit hours of required course work, 15 credit hours of required graduate Core courses, 12 credit hours of electives, and submission of an end-of-program portfolio. Each student must have an individual program of study approved by his/her faculty committee and have completed all required articulation course work as described below. At least one-half of the required credits must be taken at the 6000 level.

Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Please Note: Civil Engineering MS, Smart Cities Track may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit http://global.ucf.edu/. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at (407) 823-2337.

UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.

Track Prerequisites

A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or another closely related engineering degree. Applicants who are applying to the programs without a directly related undergraduate degree should closely check the prerequisites. Additional undergraduate courses may be required.

Applicants do not need to have Calculus 1 to 3 and Differential Equations to apply though it is preferred.

Applicants in Engineering and Science Majors do not need any articulation courses. Applicants in other majors may need to take the following articulation courses:

• MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
• MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
• MAS 3105 Matrix and Linear Algebra
• CGN 3405 Numerical Methods for Civil Engineering

Degree Requirements

Required Course

• Complete the following:
  • CGN5341 - Interdisciplinary Introduction to Smart Cities' Applications (3)

Core Courses

• Complete at least 3 of the following:
  • CCE5220 - Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (3)
  • CEG6610 - Smart Underground Structures: Tunnels and Shafts (3)
  • CES6876 - Smart City Built Infrastructure (3)
  • CGN5617 - Infrastructure Systems Optimization and Identification (3)
  • CGN6342 - Modeling Human Behavior with Emerging Data (3)
  • CGN6343 - Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Cities (3)
  • ENV6128 - Smart Air Quality Monitoring and Air Pollution Control (3)
  • ENV6533 - Smart Water and Wastewater Management (3)
  • STA5703 - Data Mining Methodology I (3)
  • TTE5531 - Active Mobility and Technologies: Synergy and Challenges (3)
  • TTE5532 - Policy Aspects of Smart City Transportation (3)
  • TTE6533 - Mobility in Smart Cities: Technologies and Application Areas (3)
  • TTE6275 - Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (3)
  • TTE6608 - Algorithms and Models for Smart Cities (3)
  • CGN5340 - Internet of Things: Applications in Smart Cities (3)

Elective Courses

• Complete all of the following
  • Complete at least 4 of the following:
    • CAP5415 - Computer Vision (3)
    • CAP5610 - Machine Learning (3)
    • CAP5738 - Visualization Techniques for Data Analysis (3)
    • CEN5016 - Software Engineering (3)
    • CGN6655 - Regional Planning, Design, and Development (3)
    • EEL5825 - Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition (3)
    • EEL6026 - Optimization of Engineering Systems (3)
    • EEL6671 - Modern and Optimal Control Systems (3)
    • EEL6683 - Cooperative Control of Networked Autonomous Systems (3)
    • EMA5104 - Intermediate Structure and Properties of Materials (3)
    • EMA5504 - Modern Characterization of Materials (3)
    • EMA6626 - Mechanical Behavior of Materials (3)
    • HMG6449 - Smart Travel and Tourism (3)
    • PAD5337 - Urban Design (3)
    • PAD5930 - Global Cities (3)
    • PAD5356 - Managing Community and Economic Development (3)
    • PAD6339 - Housing Development and Planning (3)
    • PAD6387 - Transportation Policy (3)
    • PAD6716 - Information Systems for Public Managers and Planners (3)
    • STA5104 - Advanced Computer Processing of Statistical Data (3)
    • STA5206 - Statistical Analysis (3)
    • STA5825 - Stochastic Processes and Applied Probability Theory (3)
    • STA6704 - Data Mining Methodology II (3)
    • STA6707 - Multivariate Statistical Methods (3)
    • STA6709 - Spatial Statistics (3)
    • TTE6270 - Intelligent Transportation Systems (3)
    • TTE6667 - Discrete Choice Modeling in Transportation (3)
    • URP6711 - Sustainable Transportation Planning (3)
  • Any or all of the 4 elective courses (12 credit hours) above may be substituted from XXX 6000- or XXX 7000-level elective courses approved by the student's adviser. The electives can be from Engineering and Computer Science courses, where XXX is EAS, EEE, EEL, COP, CEN, CIS, COT, CDA, CNT, CAP, EGM, ESI, BME, EML, EIN, CGN, CWR, TTE, CEG, CES, CCE, ENV, EES, EMA, or OSE; or from course prefixes outside the College, where XXX can be CHM, CHS, PHY, PHZ, GIS, ANG, POS, SYA, CCJ, BCH, BSC, HMG, HSC, MAA, MAD, MAP, MAS, MAT, MCB, MTG, PAD, PCB, STA, or ZOO. XXX 5000 level courses are an option also, but only with course-by-course permission from the academic advisor since 5000 level courses must be 50% or less of the graduate coursework. Directed Research (XXX 6918) is not permitted in the MS program of study. Elective courses beyond those listed in the graduate catalog, and others outside the department and/or program, are permitted at the discretion of the student’s advisor and/or graduate program director in the form of a signed and approved Program of Study. At least half of the credit hours used to meet program requirements must be at the 6000 level.

Thesis/Nonthesis Option

• Complete 1 of the following
  Thesis Option
  • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: XXX 6971 - Thesis A successful defense of the thesis is required. In addition, the College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all thesis defense announcements be approved by the student's adviser and posted on the college's website and on the university-wide Events Calendar at the College of Graduate Studies website at least two weeks before the defense date.
  Nonthesis Option
  • Complete all of the following
    • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Nonthesis students must complete at least 6 additional credit hours of electives from either the list above or other courses as approved by the student's adviser.
    • Portfolio Requirement Students are required to complete a culminating experience. The culminating experience for nonthesis MS students is submission of an end-of-program portfolio. The portfolio requirements are listed on the CECE website. Make sure and contact your track/program’s coordinator early in your graduating semester to find out when the portfolios are to be turned in for evaluation. The Graduate Student Services Coordinator (Arvin Cortez) should be able to tell you who the coordinator is for your degree program if you do not already know.

Grand Total Credits: 30

Application Requirements

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.

Equipment Fee

Students in the Civil Engineering MS program pay a $16 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $8 per semester.

Independent Learning

A research or design project serves as the independent learning experience for thesis students. Non-thesis students are required to take at least one of the courses marked with an asterisk (*), denoting an independent learning experience, and submission of an end-of-program portfolio.